Page 10 of Frost and Felines (Saltwater Grove #5)

10

KIERAN

K ieran watched Mallory arrange marshmallows into perfect pyramids at the hot chocolate station the next afternoon. Her platinum hair caught the warm lobby lights, and his fingers itched to brush back the strand that had escaped her practical bun. Instead, he adjusted the candy cane centerpiece, positioning himself closer to her.

"You know, those marshmallows aren't going to stay that neat once the kids get here."

"Let me have my moment of order before chaos descends." A smile tugged at the corner of her mouth, and his chest swelled with satisfaction. Making Mallory smile had become his favorite game.

"Speaking of chaos..." He reached over and deliberately toppled one marshmallow. "Oops."

She swatted his hand away. "You're worse than the children."

"I prefer to think of myself as young at heart." He caught her hand before she could pull it back. The touch sent a spark through him, and he noticed her slight intake of breath. "Want to help me test the hot chocolate? Quality control is very important."

"Is that your way of saying you want first dibs?"

"Maybe." He grinned, already reaching for two mugs. "But sharing with my beautiful wife makes it a legitimate business matter."

The word 'wife' made her tense slightly, but he pressed on, determined to keep things light. He filled their mugs with the rich chocolate mixture, adding a generous dollop of whipped cream to hers.

"Here's to quality control." He clinked his mug against hers.

Mallory took a sip, and her eyes widened. "This is amazing."

"You sound surprised. I'm wounded." He clutched his chest dramatically, and there it was - a real laugh, soft but genuine. The sound warmed him more than any hot chocolate could.

"The marshmallows really complete it," she said, picking one from her mug with her teeth. A dot of whipped cream landed on her nose.

Without thinking, Kieran reached out and wiped it away with his thumb. Their eyes met, and for a moment, the bustle of preparation around them faded away. Then someone dropped a box of games nearby, shattering the moment.

"I should finish setting up the game stations," Mallory said quickly, stepping back.

"I'll help." He wasn't ready to let her retreat completely. "Though I must warn you, I'm unbeatable at Christmas trivia."

"We'll see about that." That hint of a smile was back, and Kieran felt like he had won another small victory.

An hour later, Kieran stood at the front of the packed foyer, ready to welcome everyone to the caroling event, when the lights flickered and died. His tiger senses picked up the collective intake of breath from the crowd, along with the acrid scent of Gregory's chaos magic lingering in the air.

"Ladies and gentlemen," he projected his voice across the room, letting a hint of his natural alpha authority seep through. "Nothing to worry about. Just a minor technical issue."

A child whimpered in the darkness. Kieran's eyes adjusted quickly, catching worried glances between parents.

"My dear guests," he started, but Mallory's clear voice cut through the darkness.

"Silent night, holy night..."

The simple melody floated through the air, and Kieran's breath caught. He hadn't expected her voice to be so pure yet so haunting. A moment later, an elderly woman joined in, then a young father holding his daughter. Soon, the entire foyer rang with impromptu harmony.

"Charlotte," Kieran whispered, touching his manager's elbow. "The LED candles from the dining room."

"Already on it," she murmured back. "Amy's gathering them now."

Kieran slipped through the crowd as they moved onto "Deck the Halls," their voices growing more confident. He caught Mallory's eye across the room. She gave him a slight nod, never missing a beat as she conducted the impromptu choir with subtle hand gestures.

The carolers were starting "O Come All Ye Faithful" when Kieran returned, his arms full of battery-operated candles. He distributed them quickly, the soft LED glow creating pools of warm light throughout the room. The effect was magical – better than their original lighting plan.

"This is so romantic and inspiring," he heard one guest whisper to another. "Like something out of a movie."

Kieran made his way to Mallory's side, sliding an arm around her waist. She leaned into him slightly, still leading the group in song.

"You're brilliant, you know that?" he murmured in her ear between verses.

"Just quick thinking," she whispered back. "Though I suspect your rival's behind this?"

"Gregory won't know what hit him when I track down proof." His tiger stirred, his protective instincts rising. "But right now, I'd rather focus on how perfectly this turned out – thanks again to you."

The corners of her mouth quirked up. "Are you going to sing then, Mr. Striker, or just stand there looking pretty?"

"Both," he grinned, joining in as they started "Joy to the World," his deep baritone complementing her clear soprano.

Kieran soon carried another armload of LED candles into the dining room, his tiger senses easily navigating the dim space. The soft glow caught Mallory's pale face as she arranged the candles on each table. His inner beast purred at the sight.

"Let's set up Christmas trivia at this table." He placed his candles down, purposefully brushing against her arm. "Unless you're afraid of losing to the master?"

"Master?" Mallory's eyebrow arched. "That's quite a claim."

Charlotte chuckled as she distributed card decks at the next table. "Don't let him fool you, dear. His ego's bigger than his knowledge."

"Is that a challenge I hear?" Kieran pulled out a chair for Mallory. "Care to prove me wrong?"

"Since you asked so nicely." Mallory settled into the seat, a hint of mischief in her eyes.

The game started, and Kieran's competitive nature surged. He knew every answer about Santa's reindeer and Christmas movies, but Mallory matched him point for point. Her quick wit and sharp memory impressed him more with each round.

"Final question," he announced, leaning forward. "In Victorian England, what Christmas treat was considered good luck to eat on each of the twelve days of Christmas?"

"Mince pies," Mallory answered without hesitation. "And the superstition said you'd have twelve months of happiness."

"That's..." Kieran checked the card, his tiger bristling at being bested. "Correct. You win."

Mallory's excited laugh rang out, clear and genuine. The sound hit him like a physical force, making his chest tight. He'd gladly lose a hundred games to hear that laugh again.

"Don't pout," she teased, reaching across to pat his hand. "You're still the master of... something, I'm sure."

"I excel at being a gracious loser." He captured her hand before she could withdraw it. "And at knowing when I've met my match."

The candlelight caught her blush, and Kieran's tiger preened at the reaction. Around them, guests moved between tables, their enjoyment filling the room with warmth despite Gregory's attempted sabotage.

"Well played, both of you," Charlotte said, dropping more card sets on their table. "Now, how about helping me teach Uno to that family over there?"

"Ready to lose again?" Mallory stood, tugging Kieran up with their still-joined hands.

"With you?" He squeezed her fingers gently. "Always."

Kieran walked Mallory to their rooms later that night, his tiger prowling beneath his skin with satisfaction at how the evening had played out. The LED candles had created an ambiance no electrical lighting could match, and the spontaneous a cappella caroling had brought everyone together in a way his planned program never would have.

"You truly saved the night," he said, pausing between their doors. "That singing was so inspired."

"Me?" Mallory's eyes sparkled in the hallway light. "You're the one who kept everyone calm and turned it into an adventure instead of a disaster."

His inner beast preened at her praise. "We do make quite the team."

"We do." She twisted a strand of hair around her finger. "Though I still say I'm the brains of the operation."

"As long as I can be the brawn." He flexed playfully, drawing another of those rare laughs from her.

"Goodnight, Kieran." She slipped into her room, the door clicking shut behind her.

Kieran stood there longer than necessary, his enhanced hearing picking up her soft footsteps as she moved around her suite. Finally, he forced himself to enter his own room, though every instinct screamed to follow her.

He sprawled across his king-sized bed, not bothering with the lights. The ceiling fan spun lazy circles above him, but he couldn't focus on its movement. All he could see was Mallory's face illuminated by candlelight as she led the caroling, the way her eyes had lit up when she won at trivia, and how naturally she fit against him when he'd guided her through the crowd.

His tiger rumbled in agreement. She was perfect - sharp-witted enough to match him, strong enough to stand up to Gregory, yet carrying a gentleness that made him want to shelter her from the world. The way she handled both guests and staff, firm but fair, showed the natural leadership his mate should have.

Mate. The word echoed in his mind, and he groaned, pressing the heels of his hands against his eyes. He couldn't think of her that way. She was still grieving her husband and still raw from that loss. She didn't need him pursuing her, no matter how much his tiger insisted she belonged with them.

But damn if he wasn't falling for her anyway.